Gloucester

Gloucester's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Gloucester increased by 11%, from almost 110,000 to 122,000.

The addition of just under 12,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Gloucester was home to, on average, 21 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South West's third-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Gloucester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Gloucester increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This urban area had a lower average age than the South West and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 4,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 14% of people in Gloucester are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Gloucester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Gloucester

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Gloucester at a faster rate than in Tewkesbury (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Gloucester).

In Gloucester, the proportion of single people increased from 29% in 2001 to 34% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Tewkesbury increased from 24% to 26%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Gloucester fell from 52% to 47%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Gloucester residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.2% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Gloucester remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Gloucester by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Gloucester without children remained close to 60% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 31%, while the percentage of households in Gloucester with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.6% to 9.2%.

The proportion of households without children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 64% in 2001 to 65% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

Gloucester saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) households in Gloucester had an unmarried couple, compared with 9.3% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person decreased from 30% to 29%.

Across the region, only Plymouth (from 8.1% to 11%) and Isles of Scilly (from 7.3% to 10%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 8.4% to 10%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Gloucester increased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gloucester, the South West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Gloucester

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. An increase from 16% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Gloucester.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Gloucester that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 82,000 in 2001 to about 76,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 8,900 to just over 8,300 (from 8.1% to 6.9%).

About 3,900 people (2.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 2,500 in 2001 (3.2%).

The population without a religion in Gloucester increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Gloucester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Gloucester

The percentage of Gloucester residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.9%, while the percentage of Gloucester residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.6% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 90% in 2001 to 89% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Gloucester at a faster rate than across the South West.

In Gloucester, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.5% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 11% to 17%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Gloucester fell from 14% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74% to 67%.

Private renting in Gloucester increased by 7.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gloucester, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Gloucester

In 2011, 89% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 93% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Gloucester.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Gloucester from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 3,300 in 2001 to just over 5,800 in 2011 (from 3.0% to 4.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 2,100 to about 3,600 (from 1.9% to 2.9%).

About 3,500 people (2.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 2,500 in 2001 (2.9%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Gloucester decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Gloucester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Gloucester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 4.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Gloucester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Gloucester decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Gloucester, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Gloucester working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 11% to 8.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Gloucester decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Gloucester, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Gloucester residents that were studying increased from 2.3% to 3.3% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 59%, while the percentage of Gloucester residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 4.3%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Gloucester increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Gloucester, the South West and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

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